Drying of photographic prints



March 18, 1930. 5, J, N, LLOYD 1,750,674

DRYING OF PHOTOGRAPHIG PRINTS Filed Aug. 22, 1929 Patented Mar. 18, 1930 PATENT OFFICE STANLEY JAMES NEAL LLOYD, OF GUILDFOR-I), ENGLAND DRYING OF PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS Application filed August 22, 1929, Serial No.

This invention relates to the drying of photographic prints, especially glossy surfaced gelatine prints.

According to the invention plates in radial arrangement to carry the prints are mounted on a spindle and exposed to an air current by which the plates are caused to revolve, whereby rapid drying of the prints can be effected.

Means may be provided for heating the air to hasten the drying of the prints.

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, the same will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 represents in elevation and Fig ure 2 in plan the apparatus in a form which has been found convenient in putting the invention in practice.

Figure 3 represents in front elevation the heating device illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

A indicates a bench or work-table on which are positioned the three operative elements of the apparatus, namely, the rotary frame B, the heating device C, and the fan I).

These three elements are preferably fastened to the work-table by screws to ensure their occupying the correct relative positions.

The frame comprises a disc base 6 from which rises a pedestal b in which a spindle b can rotate in ball bearings. Upper and lower bosses b, b are adapted to be secured on the spindle by means of set screws Z)", 6', and from each of these bosses twelve or other number of radial arms 6 b project. These arms are channel shaped in cross section, each of the upper set of arms being grooved on its underside and each of the lower set of arms being grooved on its upper side, so that glass or ferrotype plate E (Figure 1) can he slid into position between each pair of arms and supported thereby in a vertical or inclined position. An air gap is preferably left between the spindle and the inner edge of each plate. Alternatively, the spindle may be fixed and the bosses arranged to re volve on it in ball bearings. Hinged or other wires may if desired be used to stiffen the frame and retain the plates in position, but

will not usually be necessary.

387,685, and in Great Britain May 4, 1928.

The heating device G in this example is a gas burner, and comprises four vertical opentopped tubes 0 having jet openings 0 (Figure 3) in their fronts, and supplied with gas by way of a tap 0 adapted for connection with a flexible tube. A back plate 0 is provided to prevent the flames issuing from the lower jet openings from being extinguished by air currents. A suitable electric heater may be used instead of this gas burner.

The fan or blower D may be an ordinary two bladed electric fan, or any other device for producing an air current. It delivers this current though the spaces between the tubes of the burner.

The prints are placed on the plates with their gelatine'sides towards the plates and their paper backs outwards so that the paper will be exposed to the current of warm air; they are all placed on the same sides of the plates in a circumferential direction. The fan and burner are set tangentially to the rotary frame, so that the air current moving in the direction of the arrows F in Figure 2 will impinge on the prints in such manner as to cause the frame to revolve in the direction of the arrow G, the prints successively entering the zone of action of the warm air current and leaving it so quickly as to avoid melting of the gelatine. The prints when dried will fall off the plates and will be found to be highly polished.

What I claim and desire to secure by Let ters Patent of the United States is 1. A drying apparatus of the class de scribed having in combination, a stationary spindle, a frame revolubly mounted on said spindle and having vertically spaced upper and lower radial arms, said upper and lower arms having opposed grooves, print supporting plates slidably mounted in said grooves, and an air impeller positioned to one side of said frame for causing a current of air to impinge in a tangential direction against said plates whereby to rotate the frame and dry the prints on the plates.

2. A drying apparatus of the class described having in combination, a stationary spindle, a frame revolubly mounted on said spindle and having vertically spaced upper and lower radial arms, said upper and lower arms having opposed grooves, print supporting plates slidably mounted in said grooves, an air impeller positioned to one side of said frame for causing a current of air to impinge in a tangential direction against said plates whereby to rotate the frame and .dry the prints on the plates, and a heating device between said frame and said air impeller, said heating device having spaced openings for permitting the air currents to pass therethrough and impinge against said plates.

STANLEY JAMES NEAL LLOYD. 

